Preview Main Idea / Reading Focus Russia and World War I The Russian Revolution

1. Preview Main Idea / Reading Focus Russia and World War I The Russian Revolution Faces of History: Vladimir Lenin After the Revolution Revolution in Russia

2. Revolution in Russia Main Idea The war and social unrest combined to push Russia to the edge of a revolution. The events that followed led to Russia’s exit from the war and became a major turning point in world history. • Reading Focus • What was Russia’s experience in World War I? • What were the main events of the Russian Revolution? • What major events took place after the Russian Revolution?

3. Bolshevik Plan The Years Before the War • Adaptation of Marxist ideas of overthrow of capitalism • Wanted elite group to keep much of power over Russia • As Russia’s problems grew more serious, Bolsheviks gained more followers • Czar Nicholas hoped World War I would cause people to rally to his leadership • Russia a troubled nation • Czar Nicholas II had promised reform after 1905 revolution, but delivered little real change • Bolsheviks sought to change life through revolution, wanted to overthrow czar • Led by Lenin, wanted proletariat to rule Russia as socialist country Russia and World War I

4. Preparations for War On the Battlefield • Outbreak of fighting caused patriotism, rush to join military • Otherwise Russia ill-prepared for war • Factories unable to produce supplies quickly • Transportation system weak • Equipment outdated • Many Russian officers advanced on connections, not ability • Some initial successes on battlefield • Losses soon outnumbered victories • Millions of Russian soldiers wounded, killed during early battles Russia in World War I At the start of the war, Russia had an enormous army of some 6 million soldiers.

5. Conditions Grow Worse • Czar Nicholas II took personal command of forces, 1915 • Move made little sense since he knew little of military matters • Czar’s fate became linked with fate of Russian armed forces • Bad situation grew worse under Czar’s command • Russian army seemed doomed • Central Powers were able to stop Russian offensive • Destroyed Russian soldiers’ faith in leadership • Army had little strength, even less confidence • Conditions in Russia worse than on battlefield • Food, goods scarce; peasants grew desperate • Unpopular Czarina relied on Grigory Rasputin, viewed as corrupt, immoral • Shaky support for Russian monarchy dipped even lower

6. Find the Main Idea How did World War I affect Russia? Answer(s): poor economic conditions, worker strikes, unpopular czar

7. Revolution Begins Czar Nicholas II Calendar Change • Citizens protested in streets of Petrograd, March 8, 1917 • Police, soldiers refused to shoot rioters • Government was helpless • Ordered legislature to disband • His order defied • Citizens, government, military refused to obey Czar • Forced to abdicate, March 15, 1917 • March revolution known as February Revolution • Russian calendar at time 13 days behind • New calendar adopted, 1918 The Russian Revolution By the end of 1916, Russia was once again on the edge of a revolution. As the new year began and conditions in Russia continued to worsen, the Russian people clearly wanted a change.

8. The Russian Revolution • Provisional Government • Duma established temporary government • Led by Aleksandr Kerensky • Many unhappy with new leadership • Bolsheviks • Led opposition to Kerensky’s provisional government • Wanted fundamental change in government and society • Planned Marxist revolution • Bolshevism • Abolish private property • Enforce social equality • Later known as Marxism-Leninism • Vladimir Lenin • Bolshevik leader forced to live outside Russia • Returned, April 1917 • Germany hoped Lenin would weaken Russian war effort

10. Bolshevik takeover Lenin became leader • Conditions ideal for Lenin • Armed Bolshevik factory workers, Red Guard, attacked provisional government, November 1917 • Known as October Revolution • Kerensky’s government collapsed after nearly bloodless struggle • Established radical Communist program • Made private ownership of land illegal • Land given to peasants • Control of factories given to workers The Bolshevik Revolution • Kerensky’s final offensive • Kerensky ordered final military offensive against Central Powers along Eastern Front, mid-1917 • Drive failed and led to widespread rebellion in Russian army • Weakened Russian army collapsed

11. Summarize What were the main events of the Russian Revolution? Answer(s): the February Revolution and the Bolshevik Revolution

12. Lenin sought to end Russian involvement in World War I Sent Leon Trotsky to negotiate peace with Central Powers Russia’s army virtually powerless Trotsky had to accept agreement harsh on Russia Russia gained peace, gave up large parts of empire After the Revolution

13. Reaction to Treaty • Bolsheviks’ acceptance of peace treaty angered many Russians • Bolsheviks’ opponents organized the White Army • White Army included army leaders, political opponents, wealthy Russians opposed to Communist system • Civil War • White Army received military help from France, U.S. • Civil War raged for 3 years between Lenin’s Red Army and White Army • Millions of Russians died in fighting, famines • Bolsheviks finally triumphed, late 1920

14. New Economic Policy • Collapsing economy • Brought on by civil war, pushed Russia to edge of total ruin • Peasants, workers especially hard hit • Lenin introduced New Economic Policy, 1921 • Key points • New Economic Policy permitted some capitalist activity • Peasants could sell food at profit • Tried to encourage badly needed food production • The Soviet Union • Russia reunited with several neighboring lands, became Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, dominated by Communist leadership • Lenin’s death in 1924 led to struggle for control of Soviet Union

15. Sequence What events took place after the Russian Revolution? Answer(s): The Bolsheviks formed the Red Army which fought against the White Army. The White Army was made up of army leaders, political opponents of the Bolsheviks, and wealthy Russians.